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+--- Thread: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 (/showthread.php?tid=7152)
Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - Rob Tucker - 04-08-2010
I have been looking through the budget, particularly the CIP. I am traveling on the mainland so keeping notes handy is a little tough.
CIP:
1.Part II, page 107 I see CIP budgets in DPW which call for expanding and remodeling some facilities "to address increasing number of employees" or some such. Seems a bit silly to be spending CIP money to expand facilities for additional employees in a furlough or hiring freeze environment. Just me I guess.
2. Part II pages 13 & 77. Do we really, really need to be spending $6,600,000 for a downtown, indoor police firing range? I mean really? I've been to other county's firing ranges and they are generally low tech, outdoor, rather remote places for firearms training. A downtown location obviously is as expensive as it can get with sound-deadening design not to mention the showers, locker rooms and gyms. Seems rather Rolls-Royce to me.
3. Part II, page 3: Is there really truly only $1,900 of Fair Share income projected? Really? Only nineteen hundred dollars? I understand that Fair Share funds are contributions from developers for infrastructure. I can see why they like Hawaii County.
More later when time allows.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - Bob Orts - 04-08-2010
#1, You need to find out if this is resulting in consolidation. If they plan to move employees from multiple sub-par areas to one centralized area, the current area may not be able to handle the additional employees. If it is consolidation, they had better be getting some improved productivity and cost savings to warrant the expense.
#2, Here on the mainland, our county expends close to $200,000 per year on its law enforcement firing range. The bulk of that cost is paid to the military to lease their state of the art ranges when needed. Top notch range, maintained by the military, better than anything the county could afford, and $6,600,000.00 would be about 25+ years of use. Will the new range last 25+ years? Has Hawaii County even asked the military if they could use their shooting ranges? (In all fairness, regulations and procedures the people want in place to curb spending abuse and provide fairness in the processes is why government work cost so much more.)
#3. The amount is $1,900 more than legally allowed. Fair Share is illegal so this may just be money some developer decided isn't worth arguing over because they got what they wanted. Next budget, the amount should be $0.
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - Rob Tucker - 04-08-2010
Thanks Bob,
#1: Consolidation is a good point.
#2: The CoH has been using the military shooting facility on Saddle Road in the past. It seems they don't like to drive that far.
#3 I already knew your position on this. It does highlight the shared burden that our poor real estate developers are under though.
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - Bob Orts - 04-08-2010
1. If it was due to consolidation, that means the expense of those retired sites should be a return to the budget once the new facility goes active - that is IF its because of consolidation. It could just be because they want a new place.
2. So, to keep some people from having to travel, they are spending millions? I would start grilling some elected officials....
3. I support impact fees on developers and developments as outlined in HRS, but most people oppose it. I don't think you would get 10% approval for development impact fees if it was put to a vote of the people. Many say they want developers to pay the fee, but they really are against it. Do you know any Puna resident who would vote for developement impact fees?
But Fair Share was ruled to be an Impact Fee (a rose by any other name is still a rose) and since Hawaii County has no Impact Fee structure on the books, it's illegal for the County to charge it anymore.
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - David M - 04-08-2010
QUOTE Rob: - "#2: The CoH has been using the military shooting facility on Saddle Road in the past. It seems they don't like to drive that far."
But the Konaside cops will willingly drive to Hilo?
David
Ninole Resident
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - oink - 04-09-2010
A state of the art range is a luxury. Most agencys use outdoor ranges with an amazing amount of police ranges located at the local land fill. There can be a lot of good reasons for a fancy indoor range. I've used them and they are great. However, in these economic times they are a luxury. Save the money, you could be cutting officers next year.
Another thought. Share it with private investment. Let investors pay for it with the rigut to rent range time to the public for public use 4 days out of the week. They could then pay a HPD officer to be range officer. The county might even get their luxury range free that way.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - Rob Tucker - 04-09-2010
Regarding the Police Department Indoor Shooting Range... It does say that the new building will eliminate renting passenger vans for 13 scheduled training days at $160 a day.
What a deal.
RE: Capital Improvement Project questions FY 2010-2011 - critterlover - 04-09-2010
About the Shooting Range...it is a steep price! I am wondering, will they actually recoup part of those funds by renting to non law enforcement for shooting practice? I understand from my pistol toting friends there are no such facilities.
On the price, there was a comment made at the County Council in reference to the huge dollar amount expected for the new Green Waste site in Kona, the county needs to look at their bidding partners with far more scrutiny. It seems like everyone is submitting bloated bids and the County is accepting them.
Another thought...are they making a state of the art shooting facility as a training site for other law enforcement agencies through out the state? Again, would such activities help defray the cost of the building?
“A penny saved is a government oversight.”